Phonograph or like cabinet



Patented Dec. i9, i922;

WILHELM GEDOR ALDEEN, OF BOCKFORD, ILLINOIS.`

rnoivoonarn on Linn CABINET,

Application led July 3, 1920. Serial No. 393,924.

' To all whom i 'may conce/fa.'

Be it known that l, VILHELM G. nnnniv, a citizen of the United `dtates, residing at Rockford, in the county of" lNinnebago and Estate of lllinois have invented certain new kand kuseful improvements in phonograph or like Cabinets. i

The invention relates to cabinets i'or phonographs and the like,` and has for its hood oi the cabinet. v

A 'more speciic object of vthe invention is to provide a counterbalancing device Where in a torsion spring is advantageously einployed to resist the action of gravity in the varying degree required to balancethe cover in any open position, and to be automatically held out of actuating engagement ywhen the cover is closed, the device 'being substantially noiseless in operation, durable and otherwise ot an etlicient and practical character.

vCounterbalancing devices in common use in phonograph or like cabinets are ot' such character that as the hood or cover ap proaches its lowermost position, the springs employed are so tensioned that in spite of the increased pressure exerted thereon by the hood as it approaches the horizontal, the lifting etl'ect oi the springs is so increased that it becomes necessary for the operator or user to take particular pains to see that the hood is in fact closed.

A turther objection to the commonly used I devices is that when the hood is closed the cabinet and hood must sustain a constant vstrain on account oiC the increased spring Itension in that position, resultingeventually in warping the Walls oi the cabinet.

The present invention aims to overcome these objections by providing a counterbalancing device which While capable ot maintaining the hood or cover lin its raised position vvill permit it to descend by gravity into closed position after having` been moved substantially into such position, and when closedivill relieve the hood and cabinet ot the otherwise constant strain result-ing from the Vspring` tension Which tends to warp the parts to which the device is att-ached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counterbalancing device which is capable of easy adjustment to vary the litting or counterbalancing eii'ect thereof.

lli further object of theinvention is to lgeneral object the provision oi an improved counterbalancing device tor the cover orv Figa l.

provide a counterbalancing device of a practical character in that it is of comparatively simple construction and may be readily as sembled.

The objects ot the invention thus generally stated, together with other and ancillary advantages, may be obtained by the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof vin which Figure Lis a iragnieif tary sectional view through the upper portion ot a phonograph cabinet, having my improved counterbalancing device applied thereto, and shoivingfthe position o the partswvhen the hood is closed, with that portion of the spring supporting member indicated below the line 3 3 in Fig. 2 removed.4 Fig@ is a horizontal sectional view on` reduced scale, taken on kline2-2 of Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.` 2 and showing the construction permitting the adjustment of ther counterbalancing spring. Fig.V l is a fragmentary elevationv showing a detail oi" construction Which facilitates assembling of the device.

This application is a continuation in part t of my copending applicationviled'August 23rdl9l9, Serial No. 319,350.

lWhile I have herein shown my invention as applied to a phonograph cabinet, it Will be understood that the device is readily applicable to various types of cases or cabinets requiring counterbalancing devices, and although the invention is `hereinafter described with considerable particularity, it

is not to be limited tliereby, iii` the interpretation of the appended claims, except as may be'necessitated by the stater of the prior art.

Referring .to the drawings l designates the main orbase portion of a'plionograph cabinet having a cover or hood 2 hinged at its rear edge as at 3, the hood being adapted to rest upon the top of the base portion when in closed position. Vlhe hood 2 is provided with the usual bracket 4C to which is pivoted the upper end oi a link 5 which depends through a slot 6 into the base and is operatively associated with the counter-balancing device indicated generally at 7, for supporting the hood in raised position. i f

The counterbalancing meansk comprises, in the present embodiment, a lever 8 pivoted at 9 upon a bracket lOcarried by the base llO 1. Herein said bracket is mounted upon a base plate 11 of wood or the like, suitably secured to a side wall o'ithe base, and the bracket is offset outwardly between its upper and lowei' ends, as at 12, so as to receive'the rear end of the lever between it and the base plate 11. r1`he free end of thelever 8iis pivotally connected at 13 to the lower end of the link and mounted .on the lever near the (Fig- 2) 1 having a disk portion 15 spaced trom the lever Extending betweensaid disk 15 and the level' 81 is a stud 16 having mounted thereona coiled torsionspring 17.

The bracket 1l `Ais secured to the lever 8 by means ot abolt 18, the brackethaving edge flanges 19 'for engagingthe opposite edges of the. lever 8 to prevent its rotation relative thereto. The lportion 15 of the bracket is in the 'form of a disk having acentral opening therein ior receiving the outer end of the stud 16, said stud being retained in position by suitable means such as a Cotter-pin 20.

rlhe spring 1T hasits outer arm 21 held rigid with the disk 15 of the bracket, and the opposite or inner arm 22 of the spring is rigid with a rotatable element 28 journaled on the stud 16 between the lever 8 and the spring. In. order to permit of the adjustment of the spring to vary the torsion .thereof the disk 15 of the bracket is provided with `an inwardly projecting flange 24 notched to provide a series of ratchet teeth 25 adaptedsto receive thearm 21 (Figs. 2 and This construction permits ofan easy adjustment of the spring after the parts have been lasseinbled. The opposite arm 22 of the spring may engage with a stud 26 on the rotatable element'28.

`ln order to eilect a rotation ot the element 23 as the hood 2 ol the cabinet is raised or lowered, and` thereby unwind or wind up the spring 17, I herein provide intermesh` ing teeth on the bracket 10 and rotary element 28 vin the form ot gear segments 27 and 28. To permit or' the swinging movements of the lever 8 and at the same time guide it in such movements, the bracket 1() may be provided withan arcuate slot 29 in which a pair of studs 30 mounted oni the lever 8 and'cariying washers 30a are arranged to operate.

lAs the hood is swung` upwardly upon its hinge 3g the lever 8 is correspondingly swung upwardly on its pivot 9; 1n this operation the rotatable element 23 is rotated, by reason or' the engagement of its `gear segment 28 with the gear segment 27 of the bracket,n `to unwind the spring 17, upward movement ot the hood being` limited by the upper ot the two studs 30 abutting the upper end of the arcuate slot 29. i-is the hood is swung dowiiwardly, the element 23 sactuated to wind up the spring 17, by engagement of the ro` free end thereof is a bracket 14k tatabley gear segment 28 with the stationary gear segment 27, the tension gradually increasing as the hood moves toward the hori- 'Zontah ln lorder that* the increased tension upon the spring will not operate to resist with such increasing effectiveness the descent ot the hood that the latter may not be counterbalanced in the lower positions, the gear segments 2'? and 28 may be formed with eccentric pitch lines so that the eii'ective yradius'of the element 23 is gradually inthe element 23 disengages Jfrom the segment 27 oif the bracket and the final tooth 28L in the segment 28 passes out along the periphery ot a cam 31 icornied on they bracket 10 in continuation of the segment 27. The cam 31 is so constructed that the direction of torce exerted by the spring-actuated member 23 upon the bracket 10 changes progressively ici'omvan approximately perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis ot the lever8 when the gear segments 2T and 28 are in mesh, to an approrimately parallel relation to that axis when the hood is in its closed position. lli/Then the parallel relation referred to is attained, the parts are virtually in a dead center position as respects the tendency tor movement` of the lever 8 under the action of the spring. Coincident with the dellection of the line ot force, occurring upon the engagement ot the tooth 28a with the cam 31, friction between those members increases progressively during the final closing movement of the hood andy assists in preventing a sudden drop of the hood. Y

Alt will thus be seen that. while the gear segments are in mesh, the lover 8 Ais actuated to support and counterbalance the weight et the hood. s the hood lor-foreilV the ef;- centiic pitch line ot the segments serves to graduate the force exerted upon the bracket 4l proportionate to the weight supported at that point in the iirogressively lowered positions of the hood. As the hood approaches its lowern'iost position the segments disengage, the tooth 28a4 passes out upon the cam 81 with -the effect ot rapidly reducing the lifting torce in the lever 8 and interposiiig friction to resist a sudden tall oit' the hood. and linally permitting the hood smoothly to crane to rest by gravity, in closed position, without being forced down or being suddenly dropped. rllie tooth 28a so disposed with respect to the cam 31 that while the hood is closed the spring torque exerted upon the lever 8 operates in a line of torce approximately yparallel to the longitudinal anis ot the lever and consequently no lifting torce is sustained by the hood and cabinet Air) to the 'Weight sides in that position, and no resulting constant strain tending to distort. those parts.

llortlie purpose or 'facilitating the assembling of the parts, the pivotal 'connection betiveen the linlr' and lever@l is made detachable.4 Herein for this purpose the pivot stud 13 is provided on its inner end 'with an extending lug 83 and the opening' in 'the lower end ot the link 3 is provided with an angularly-eirtending` notch B4. The li and notch are so arranged that when iinlr and lever are brought into aliiiement the parts may be assembled but when the parts are secured `in position with `the linlr and lever out o'l` alineinent, saidlinlr and lever are held against detachment. l

ltjwill be seen that l have provided a counterb'alancing device n Jfor phonographs which is of a very practical character'. 'lhe parts operate smoothly `Withoutperceptible noise, and the torsional spring is capal'ile oi" lvery eifectively counterbalancing,` ythe hood. Moreover, the arrangement o't the gear segments to permit the hood to ldescend freely as it approaches its horizontal position insures that the hood will remain closedv when it isso desired, anl the cabinet :tra-me relieved from distortion by constant strain. Should the spring become worn or weakened in use, it may be very easily adjusted, and the diliiculty commonly experienced in asseoibling` disconnected parts ol' a device Within the case is overcome by the detachable `connection between the members secured to ditterent parts oll the cabinet.

I claim as my invention:

l 1. rl"he combination with and a part ii'iovable relativ thereto by the action of gravity, of means :tor supporting,` themovablev part in equilibrium when in open position comprisingY a` torsion spring adapted'to operably oppose the weight ot said inovable part, and means for automatically controlling the erlective 'force ot said spring in counterbalancingproportion sustained thereby through the range of open positions of said movable part.

2. The combination with stationary part and ak part movable in swinging relation thereto, o'l' means for counterbalancing the movable part including` a torsion spring v, adapted to operably oppose the Weight ot said .movable part, and means 'associated with said spring operable in the iLiroininately closed positions olf said movable part to materially diminish the effective opposition? ot said spring,

3. The combination with a stationary part and a movable part hinged thereto, of counterbalancing means mounted on said stationary part. and operatively connected with said .movable part comprising a spring', a rotary element operable to deiiect said spring', and means for effecting' the rotation 'of said 4elements by the-movements ot saidl "in a. condition et balance element interenggaging with a rotary elem a stationary part -vinding` said sprin being aoap 'ed to support said man. llc paz'. throughout it range open positions and todiscontinue said support When said movable part is in proiriinately closed position. i

d. ln ay phonograph or like cabinet having .a base and a hood hinged thereon, the coinliination therewitl'i ot means lor yieldinw y supporting' the hood in raised position coniprising a fixed member mounted in said base,

element having operable connection with said hood and lia-ving engagement with said red inember whereby said element is rotated by swinging` said hood, and torsion springv adapted to be deflected by the rotation of said element.

ln a cabinet having a base, a pivoted cover andv means tor countcrbalancing `weight of' said cover 4in open position combination with means 'to arrest the ac ot said connterbalanciiigmeans upon said cover' in closed position, coniprisi a'ixed and coacting to, deflect the operative Atorce o'li the couiiterbalaiicing means in a neutral direction. y

6. ln a cabinet having` a base oted cover, the combination of kmeans 'for counterbalancing the weight of said cover in open position and being` adapted to diininish in eiieot as said hood approaches closed position, with means 'tor interposing` itrictioiial resistance ing as the effect ol' said 'counterbalaiicineinea-iis decreases.

in a cabinet, in vconibiiiation 'with a base having a hinged cover, means 'for couiiand a piv- -terbalancing the weight ot said cover 'in open position, vsaid means includingl a torsion spring` and a plurality ot interineshine; gear segments having pitch lines eccentric to their centers and adapted to compensate 'for the increasing' torsion develoiiied in S. ln a phonograph or like cabinet, the combination with base and a hinged hood, member pivoted to the hoodY and de` pending into ,he base, a lever pivoted'in the base andy pivotaliy connected to said meinber, and spring actuated means associated with sad lever for counter-balan/ingr said hood, said means prot'ided 'th sevices for restraining; said counter-balancing; action when said hood is in closed position'. y

9. ln a cabinet 'for phonograpbs or the like` the combination ivith a base having a progressii/'elyl increaslOO lloA

has having a hinged cover, means for counter-b ancing thY i )not gravity upon the cover in open p said mear including s @lements adapted to inteiinesl. and

having pitch lines eccetric to their centers whereby the variable eti'ect of the action of gravity upon said cover -within its range of open positions opposed in the variable degree necessaryy to maintain said cover in troon ysaid approaches clos; f to and is in closed position. s

i ln a calnne: loi phonographs or the a base and a hinged hood,

like comprising? z o L1ie hood and dependnber pivoted into said ba. e,

.oase and having in association therewith a gear segment and a cam, a lever pivoted to said bracket and to said deoending niember, a rotary element pivot "i on said lever and having teeth arranged to mesh with gear segment, and a torsion spring arrai'iged to be wound and uinvound by the rotation of said rotary element, said rotary element being adapted to engage progressively said gear segment and said cam as the said hood is raised or lowered, said cam and said rotary element coacting to `develop increasing friction therebetween With the advance ot their interenga gement.

i3, 1n a phonograph or like cabinet having a base hood, means for yieldingly supporting said hood in raised position comprising a member depending from said hood, a bracket monntei'l on said base, a liz-:ed gear segment associated with said bracket, and aspring-aotuated rotatable gear element associated viith said member, said gear segment and gear element being adapted to interengage and resist the weight oi said hood in raised position, and to disengage and cease such resistance when said hood is in closed position.

le. The combination With a stationary part and a partmovabe relative thereto by the action of gravity, ci' means operatively connected With said parts for yieldingly suijipoiting the movable part comprisinga lifted element having an irreggailar gear segnient, a rotatable mutilated gear element, and a torsion spring elementactuating said rotatable element, said elements coacting to comiterbalance said movable part in raised position, to diminish the lifting force exerted by them as the movable part approaches its normal position, and to Wholly discontinue said ii'orce when said movable part is normally at rest.

15. In a cabinet for phonographs or the like, thecoinbination with a base having hint4 rood, ot means tor yie'idnigly supie hood in raised position, comiber pivoted to the hood and depending iL the base, a 'torsion spring, and means for effecting the Winding and anni' ling of said sprin,r in the swinufing movements ot said hood, said means including a pair ci? intermeshing gear segments having pitch lines eccentric to their centers and adapted tocompensate *for the increasing torsion developed in winding said spring, t

lo, ln a cfiinet tor phonographs or the fino* gear teeth thereon, torsion spring ha ig one end attached to said bracket and the other` end attached to said rotary element, a second bracket mounted on the base and having a stationary 'gearL element thereon with which the teeth oisaid rotary element are adapted to mesi, said rotary element and said stationary gear element cooperating to eil'ect theopposition in counterbalanced relationo'the variable tension of said torsion spring to the variable proportion ot the Weight ofsaid hood supported by said pivoted member through the range oi siving of said hood Whenraised from said base.

l?. ln a cabinet ttor phonographsor the like, comprising a base and a hinged hood, a member pivoted to the hoodand depending into the base, a bracket mounted in the base and having in association thereon a segment and a cam, a lever pivoted to said bracket and to said depending member, a rotary element pivoted on said lever and having teeth Aarranged to mesh With said gear seginent,and a torsion spring arranged to be Wound and univound by the rotation of said rotary element, said rotary element being adapted to engage progressively said gear segment and said cam as the said hood is raised or lowered, said cam being shaped to resist the spring torsion transmitted by said rotary element in a. gradually changing direction oil torce 'from an approximately perpendicular relation to the longitudinal axis of said lever to an approximately parallel relation` to said axis when saidfhood is in closed position.

18. ln a cabinethavingabase and apivoted hood, means in combination therewith for yieldingly supporting said hood in open position against the ,action of gravity comprising a Xed member mounted in said base having aseries otiteeth, a rotary element having reciprocal toothed engagement With said member and operatively connected ,to

said hood, and a spring arranged tov be stressed by the rotation of said rotary element, the interengaging teeth upon said tired member and said rotary element being siaped so that their progressive points oi reciprocal engagement serve to transmit the one oit which is adapted to rotate in the movements ot the hood, means adaptedto resist the rotation oi' said rotary element in the downward movement ofsaidhood, `and means operative in the lowerpositions of the hood approaching closure to permit in-` creased effectiveness of gravity acting upon said hood in opposition to said resisting means.

Qi). ln a phonograph or like cabinet, the combination with a base and a hood hinged thereon, or means lor yieldingly supporting the hood in poised position comprising a member pivoted to the hood and depending into the base, an eccentric rotary element mounted in the base, a bracket mounted in the base, a torsion spring having one arm rigid with said bracket andthe other arm rigid with said rotary element, and means for eli'ecting rotation of -said element whereby to wind and unwind said spring in the swinging movements of the hood.

2l. ln a cabinet having a swinging hood, means ior counterbalancing the hood including a pair of interengaging elements one of which is adapted to rotate in the movements oi the hood, and means adapted to resist the' rotation ofi said rotary element in the downward movement of said hood, said elements operating in the lower positions ot the hood approaching closure to permit increased ei?- i'ectiveness of gravity acting upon said hood in opposition 4to said resisting means. p

22. ln a cabinet for phonographs or the like, the combination with a base having a hinged hood, of means for yielding-ly supporting the hood in raised position comprising a member pivoted to the hood and depending into the base, a torsion spring, and means including a pair ot 'intermeshing gear segments for effecting the winding and unwinding of said spring iii the swinging movements of said hood.

23. ln a cabinet 'tor phonographs or the like, comprising a base-having a` hinged hood, a pivoted member depending trom the hoodinto the base, a torsion spring, and means arranged to be actuated by the movements of said member in the swinging movements the hood to wind and unwind said spring comprising a pair of intermeshadaptedto exert a lifting effect on ing gear segments adapted as the bood ai pinacbes its closed position to disengage and thereby diminish the hitting cifUV phonograph or like cabinet, the

combination with a base having a hood.

oi a member pivoted to 'the hood and de pending into the base, a lever pii'oted in the base and pir-fatally connected to said member, astationary gear element in the base, rotary gear crement mounted on said lever and meshingv with the stationary gear element, and a torsion spring having one end iiXed and the other end rotatablewithsaid rotary gear element.y

n cabinet for phonographs or the like, the combination with'a base having` a hinged hood, oil a. member pivoted to the hood andlepending into the base, a lever pivoted in the base and pivotally connected f ..11 s b... bmi' L' 1b.* 'i to saiovniem ci, a ia` ret carrier saic lever a rotarv element Jivoted on the lever .f and having gear teeth thereon, a torsionv spring having one end ixedv to said bracket and the other end fixed to said rotary element, a second bracket mounted on the base and having a stationary gear element thereon with which the teeth of said rotary element are adapted to mesh, said gear elements being` adapted'to disengage as thev hood approaches its closed position, and

means iior preventingv the rotation of saidV rotary element by said spring upon such disengagement.

26. ln a phonograph or like cabinet, the combination with a base and a hood, yoi means oryieldingly supporting the hood in raised position, comprising a member deaending from the hood into the base, a

bracket mounted on one wall ot the base and offset outwardly in its central portion from said wall, a lei'ei' pivoted on the kin ner side of said bracket and having a guide stud thereon, there being an arcuate slot in the bracket tor receiving said stud. and spring` means `carried by said lever and,I said hood.

27. In a phonograph or like cabinet,y the combination with a base having a hinged hood, of a member pivoted tothe hood and depending into ythe base, a. lever pivoted to the base and having a detachable connection with said mei'iiber, and means actuated in. the swinging movements of said klever to resist in progressive increasing and member pivoted to the hood and depending into the base. a lever pivoted in the base and detachably connected to said member,

4the hood in raised position comprisinga and menus includingr a spring;v tendingto eiffeet :in upward' swinging movement oi seid lever with progreesiveiy increasing and decreasing force,

29. In Cabinet for phonograph; or the like the Combination with n. hase haf'i n hood` of means for yieidingij: supper the hood in raised position eompifsing member depending Y''rtun the hood into Vthe hase, n. rotary element mounted in the besej :i hrzifket, a stud mounted in said brac (et upon which seid rotary element is ournnied u torsion spring;` surrounding said stud and havingone end rfixed to the hi'neketend the oti'iel end iixed to seid rotan-y element, and means ogeretiveiy associated with said depending' member to eeot the rotation oi" said element whereby to `Wiiid and unwind seid spring in the movements of the hood.

30. in a. Cabinet for phonographs oi the like.r the combination with :i base having hood7 of means for yieidingiy supporting' the hood in raised position comprising' u. member deiiending` from the hood into the hase, at rotary element mounted 'in the hase, n bracket having :i disk portion provided end xed to said rotary element,` and means operatively associated with said depending member to effect the rotation o seid eieinent Whf-Jrehyv to Wind and unwind said spring in the movements of the hood.

3l. In phonograph or like Cabinet7 the Combination with a base ond a 'hinged hood of i member pivot-ed to the hood and depending into the base, ievei pivote'd in the bese end pivotaiiy Connected to said member, a spring'aeting upon said lever to resist the downward swinging movement oi the hood, means other than spring` means operable to diminish the lifting effect oi seid spring as the hood is moved to its eiosed position, and means-` for adjusting` the tension of seid spring. i

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand.

W.iLHELM GEDUR ALDEEN. 

